MAX DEGA BAND

Rođen 7. studenog 1959., Max je počeo svirati gitaru sa šesnaest godina. Samouki u proučavanju instrumenta, svirao je godinama u raznim bendovima. Sudbina ili sreća odigrala je ulogu 1994. godine kada je dobio priliku upoznati Nicka Becattinija, poznatog i etabliranog talijanskog blues izvođača. Od tog trenutka Max je shvatio da je blues njegova glazba. Tijekom sljedeće dvije godine bio je pozvan da svira uz Nicka Becattinija na raznim koncertima. Godine 1996. Max je postavio temelje za stvaranje benda “Okahumkee”. Okahumkee je nastavio svirati oko četiri godine, uz sudjelovanje basista Nicka De Vite. Ove četiri godine bile su oblikovne za Maxa – u tom periodu je sazrio i bolje razumio blues glazbu. Tijekom tog vremena, unatoč amaterskom statusu, bend je odsvirao oko 120 koncerata. Najveće zadovoljstvo donijeli su nastupi 1997. godine, s Eddiejem Floydom na saksofonu, na „After Hours“ u Bellinzoninoj Blues Square i na festivalu Buonafiesta u regiji Valais. Godine 2000. Max je sudjelovao kao skladatelj i solist u Funky/Afro bendu Labanda Yamamba, u kojem su svirali i Walter Calloni i Aldo Banfi. Osim toga, nastupio je na Latin festivalu u Veziu, Švicarska, s Labandom Yamambom, a potom je imao sreću otvoriti koncert velikog Papa Wembe. U sljedeće dvije godine Max je nastavio svirati u brojnim bendovima, među kojima i u bendu Crossfires. Max je 2003. upoznao J.C. Harpa s kojim je osnovao bend Midnight Train. S ovim bendom nastavio je svoj glazbeni put, sazrijevajući kao glazbenik i kao osoba. Godina 2005. bila je prekretnica – Max je pozvan da nastupi na različitim pozornicama Blues Square u Bellinzoni. Iskustvo sviranja solo pred 8000 ljudi bilo je jednostavno zadivljujuće. Tijekom tih tri dana, različiti izvođači (Paul Lamb, Harprise) pridružili su mu se na pozornici, a osobno ga je pohvalio i Bob Margolin. Ubrzo nakon toga, Max je shvatio da je vrijeme za stvaranje vlastitog benda pod svojim imenom. U posljednje četiri godine, Max je nastupao na mnogim festivalima s velikom pjevačicom iz Chicaga, Sweet Bev Perron. Među svim glazbenicima koji su utjecali na njegov stil, najveći utjecaj imali su Duane Allman, zatim B.B. King, Johnny Winter i Dickey Betts. Njegova sposobnost prelaska s električne na akustičnu gitaru bez gubitka tempa čini ga svestranim gitaristom, sposobnim održati i akustični i električni koncert. Na kraju, Max je i amaterski pjevač koji uživa eksperimentirati s novim instrumentima poput mandoline i banja. Osim što je glazbenik, Max je i umjetnički direktor na nekim festivalima.

The Band
Max Dega – gitara, vokal, slide gitara, banjo, mandolina
Vanni Patriarca – bas gitara, kontrabas, vokal
Roby Panzeri – bubnjevi
Nicola Calgari – saksofon
Aldo Banfi – klavijature

Born on November 7th, 1959, Max began playing guitar when he turned sixteen. Self taught in the study of the instrument, he played for many years with several bands. Destiny or luck played a role in 1994 presenting to him the opportunity to meet Nick Becattini, a well known and established Italian Blues man. From that moment onward Max realized that Blues was his music. In the following two years Max was invited to play alongside Nick Becattini in various of his concerts. In 1996 Max poured the foundations to create “Okahumkee”. The Okahumkee band kept on playing for approximately four years with the participation of Nick De Vita, bass player.These fours years are the formative years during which Max matures and comes to understand Blues music. During this period, despite their amateur status, they established themselves playing in about 120 concerts. The gratest statisfactions came along in 1997 playing with Eddie Floyd, sax man, in the “after hours” at the Bellinzona Blues Square and at the “Buonafiesta Festival” in the Vallese region. In 2000, Max contributed as a composer and as a solo guitar player in the Funky/Afro Labanda Yamamba band, band in which both Walter Calloni and Aldo Banfi played. In addition, Max perfomred at the Latin festival in Vezio, Switzerland, with Labanda Yamamba and thereafter had the fortune to open the concert for the great Papa Wemba. Max continued to paly in the following two years in numerous bands, among which the Crossfires band. Max met J.C. Harpo in 2003 with whom he founded the Midnight Train. With this band Max continued his musical path, maturing as a musician and as a person. 2005 was a turning point, for Max is called to sit in on different stages at the Blues Square of Bellinzona. The experience of playing solo in front of 8000 people proves to be simply breathtaking. During these 3 days, various artists (Paul Lamb, Harprise) join Max to play on stage, in addition of being congratulated personally by Bob Margolin. Soon after, Max comes to realize that it is time to create his own band bearing his name. In the last four years, Max played in a lot of Festival with a great singer from Chicago:Sweet Bev Perron. Among all the musicians that have influenced his style the greatest that have left a definitive mark are Duane Allman, followed by B.B. King, J. Winter,and Dickey Betts. The ability to switch from an electrical guitar to an acousitc one without loosing a beat makes Max a versatile guitar player, capable of performing both an acoustic concert as well as an electric one. Last but not least, Max is an amateur singer who enjoyes experimenting new instruments such as mandolin or banjo.Besides being a musician he is also an artistic director in some festival.

The Band
Max Dega guitar, vocal, slide guitar, banjo, mandolin
Vanni Patriarca bass, double bass, vocal
Roby Panzeri drums
Nicola Calgari sax
Aldo Banfi keyboards